A NEIGHBOURHOOD war of words escalated into terror when an irate father brandished a fake pistol at residents in a Melksham street.

Judge Christopher Clark, sitting at Swindon Crown Court, heard how the ballbearing gun incident began when 39-year-old James Riley was pushed 'to the end of his tether' by neighbours.

Riley waved the imitation Heckler and Koch pistol at residents in Somerset Crescent, Melksham, after a neighbour's children threw stones at his house.

The court heard how Riley, who admitted affray, was provoked into the action by noisy neighbours.

Defence solicitor Jenny Tallentire told the court Riley, his wife and their 10-year-old daughter, along with other street residents, had suffered years of trouble from resident Gillian Newell and her children.

Ms Tallentire said the Newell family lit massive bonfires with large pieces of furniture, car batteries and sofas, causing plumes of noxious fumes to engulf the neighbourhood.

"On one occasion a neighbouring garden fence, albeit not Mr Riley's but another neighbour's, was set alight by one of the these bonfires," Ms Tallentire said.

"He was a man with a 10-year-old daughter and wife who all felt uncomfortable with the language they had to listen to over the garden fence, not only from the children but from Mrs Newell as well."

When Riley confronted Mrs Newell there was a row involving her children, who began to throw stones at his house.

Riley answered a threat of violence by taking the ballbearing gun to the Newell's house, waving it in the air.

Ms Tallentire said Riley did not fire or point the gun at anyone.

Earlier the court was told how witnesses were terrified when they saw Riley brandishing the weapon.

Sarah Regan, prosecuting, said: "As it was waved at her Mrs Newell said she was terrified and genuinely feared he would harm her and her children."

She accepted there had been problems and said Mrs Newell told police officers she had apologised for her children's behaviour.

The court was told the council evicted the Newell family after a string of complaints from neighbours, including the Rileys.

Mr Clark QC told Riley, of Coronation Road, he had "answered abuse with abuse" in resorting to waving a gun at neighbours.

He said: "I have little doubt that there is a good deal of background as I indicated during the course of argument.

"I strongly suspect that you and perhaps others were at the end of your tether.

"But having said that and making every allowance for the provocation I think it could be said what you did that day was descend to the level of the gutter.

"You answered abuse with abuse which does not solve anything and then you behaved stupidly with this toy gun and that is what got you in trouble."

He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £200 prosecution costs.